THE huge cost hitting the public’s pockets of private ownership of the energy retail industry has been exposed in a damning report by the TUC today.

And the report includes a detailed blueprint on how to take the “Big Five” energy companies — British Gas, E.ON, EDF, Scottish Power and Ovo — into public ownership, saving the public billions of pounds and giving every household a free “band of energy” covering basic lighting, heating, hot water and cooking.

Taxpayers forked out £2.7 billion, bailing out 28 failed energy companies that saw failed chief executives walk away with millions in protected pay-offs.